Feeler mechanism for looms



F. LACEY.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19. 1919.

1,362,108. Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

A "f I K 4 I /rad OFW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED LACEY, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER CORPORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEEIlER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED LAoEY, a citizen of the United States, residin at Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and S tate of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanism for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specifica tion, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to filling replenishing looms, and more particularly to the feeler mechanisms of .such looms, which prior to complete exhaustion of filling in the running shuttle, efiect a replenishment of filling.

Several different types of feeler mechanisms have heretofore been suggested, and among them is that known as the side swipe feeler mechanism, wherein the feeler feels for the filling in the shuttle on each detecting beat, and when it detects substantial exhaustion thereof, is given a movement longitudinally of the shuttle or along lengthwise of the filling carrier in the shuttle, and such movement is transmitted to a train of mechanism to change the operative condition of the loom upon the occurrence of such movement. In one form of feeler mechanism of this type, the'feeler is under control of yielding means which act at the critical time to cause movement of the feeler 10ngitudinally of the shuttle, and at other times is restrained from effecting such movement by various forms of restraining means.

The present invention relates more particularly to the above general type of feeler mechanisms, and has for its object to simplify the construction and render it more sensitive to the presence or absence of filling in the shuttle, and further to eliminate the necessity for restraining means acting to prevent movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle except at the critical period.

An important feature of the present inwention, therefore, consists of a feeler mount:

d for movement longitudinally of the shuttle, and a power operated member for imparting to the feeler its prescribed move-' ment longitudinally of the shuttle by a connection between it and the feeler.

Another important feature of the invention consists in mounting the feeler for movement longitudinally ofthe-shuttle and supporting its rear portion by an arm connected to an oscillating member having a yielding connection with the arm which permits the feeler to be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by the filling on a detecting beat when a working supply of filling is present, but effects such movement when the filling is substantially exhausted.

In carrying out the general purposes of the present invention, the feeler has its front end portion preferably connected pivotally to a support, and its rear end portion sustained by a sliding connection with an arm mounted upon an oscillating member which is given its oscillating movement during each detecting beat of the lay.

Other features and novel combinations of parts, in addition to the above, will hereinafter be described, and the invention will then be defined by the claims.

' The drawing represents a perspective view of the detecting side of a loom embodying the present invention, only suflicient parts thereof being shown to make clear the association of the invention with its related parts.

The loom frame 1 may be of usual character adapted for the support of the operating parts, and has secured thereto the arms 2, one at each side of the loom for supporting the usual transverse or rock shaft 3, which is normally under the influence of a spring (not shown) tending to turn it contra-clockwise. Secured to and extending from the transverse shaft 3 is the arm 4 to which is pivotally connected at 5 the actuator 6, the rear end 7 of which is adapted to be operatively positioned relative to an operating member 8. The operating member 8 may be either the weft hammer or cam follower, or a part connected thereto, and is provided with an abutment 9 which, when theactuator 6 is moved to place its end 7 opposite such abutment, the actuator will be moved 'frontwardly to rock the transverse shaft 3 and effect replenishment of filling. These parts may be of usual construction.

The lay 10 is provided Withthe usual shuttle-box 11 provided with an opening 12 in a front wall adapted to register with a similar opening 13 in the side wall of a shuttle14 containing the filling carrier 15,, when the shuttle is in the detecting box, the construction being such that on the frontward or beat-up movement of the lay, the feeler will enter through the walls of the shuttlebox and shuttle and feel for the filling.

Mounted on the shipper stand 16 is a bracket 17 carrying a support or feeler stand 18. The feeler stand 18 has pivotally connected thereto a block 19. In the present instance of the invention, the block 19 is pivotally supported by a pin 20. mounted in a bracket 21 secured by a bolt 22 to the feeler stand or support 18, but any suitable pivotal connection of the block 19 with the feeler stand may be employed. The feeler 23 is provided with a roughened or toothed feeling end 24 and extends frontwardly through the swivel block 19. In the present instance, the feeler 23 is formed at its rear portion as a fiat plate or, and has secured thereto by a lug 25, the frontwardly extending stem 26 which passes through an opening in the bearing block 19, the construction being such that the feeler is capable of movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, as well as also a movement toward and from the front of the loom. Interposed between the lug 25 the block 19 is a spring 27 which normally acts to move the feeler 23 into its rearward position, a stop 28 serving to limit its rearward movement.

The rear portion of the feeler 23 is provided with a slot 29 extending lengthwise of the feeler which is engaged by a pin or roller 30 carried by an arm 31 pivotally mounted at 32 to the oscillating member 33. The arm 31 has an extension 34 to which is connected one end 35 of a spring 36, the

other end 37 of the spring being connected to a pin carried by the oscillating member 33. The construction is such that the spring 36 acting lengthwise of the oscillating member 33 normally holds the arm 31 in substanrest and slide toward and from thefront of the loom. Thus, the feeler has its front portion pivot'ally mounted to permit movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, and its rear portion is l sustained upon and is movable toward and from the front of the loom relative to'the actuating means or arm 31 which gives the feeler its movement longitudinallyof the shuttle. t

The present invention contemplates that when the feeler is moved longitudinally of the shuttle, which takes place when the filling is substantially exhausted, that a train of mechanism be set in operation to effect replenishment of filling. To this end the plate 38 has connected thereto a link 39, the

other end whereof is connected at 40 to a bell crank lever 41 pivoted at 42 to a stand 43 secured to the 100m frame. of the bell-crank 41 extends, in the present instance, under the actuator 6, and when the bell-crank is moved around its pivotal mounting in a contra-clockwise direction as viewed in the drawing, the actuator 6 will have its end 7 placed in position for engagement by the operating member ,8, to thereby effect replenishment of filling as usual in this class of looms.

The oscillating member 33 is preferably formed as a lever pivotally mounted at 45 to a suitable support, which in the present instance, comprises a bracket 46 secured to the loom frame 1. Extending below the piv-,

otal mounting 45 of the oscillatin member is the portion 47 carrying a bearing or yoke 48 which is held against the peripheral portion of a cam 49 by means of a spring 50,

The arm 44 one end of which is connected to the actuator 33 at 51, and the other to a fixed part of the loom or bracket as at 52, the construction being such that as the cam 49 is rotated, as will presently appear, the oscillating member 33 will be oscillated on its pivotal support 45, and through the arm 31 tend to impart movement to the rear end portion of the feeler in. a direction longitudinally of the shuttle. if at this time, that is on the detecting beat, and when the cam 49 moves the oscillating member as described, a Working supply of filling is present in the shuttle, the roughened or toothed end portion 24 of the feeler will engage the filling and be held from movement thereby longitudinally of the shuttle, and the spring 36 will yield to permit the arm 31 to be carried to the right of itsnormal position as indicated in the drawing. 11', however, at this period in the cycle of operations the filling is substantially exhausted, thefeeler will no longer be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle as the oscillating member 33 is moved clockwise by the cam 49, whereupon the feeler 23 under the stress of the spring 36 and in charge of the arm 31, will be moved longitudinally of the shuttle, thereby lifting the'actuator 6 into operative relation with the operating member 8 and effect replenishment of filling.

The cam 49 may be mounted upon a shaft 53 which may be operated in timed relation with the other parts from any moving part of the loom. In thepresent instance, the shaft 53 has one end portion mounted in a bearing 54 carried by the bracket 46, and

extends rearwardly ofthe loom frame where -it is supported in a suitable bearing 55 and is provided with a pinion 56 which meshes with a corresponding toothed wheel57 on a shaft 58 which may be actuated from either the lower or upper cam shaft of a loom, or by gearing connection with 'the crank shaft, the construction being such that upon each detecting beat of the lay the oscillating member 33 will be given its oscillating movement tending to move the feeler 23 in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle.

hat is claimed is 1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler having its front end portion supported on the stand to permit movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, an oscillating member, an arm pivotally mounted on the oscillating member and extending upwardly into engagement with the feeler and-supporting its rear portion, a spring normally maintaining the pivotally mounted arm in 'position to hold the feeler in its lateral feeling position and yielding as the oscillating member is oscillated to permit the filling in the shuttle to hold the feeler from movement longitudinally of the shuttle when a working supply is present.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler having its front end portion supported on the stand to permit movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, and its rear portion provided with a slot extending lengthwise of the feeler, an oscillating lever, an arm extending upwardly from the lever and engaging the slot in the feeler, a support carried by the arm for supporting the rear portion of the feeler, and yielding connections between the oscillating lever and arm permitting the feeler to be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle when a working supply of filling is present and to be moved by the arm when the filling is substantially exhausted.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler having its front end portion supported on the stand to permit movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, and its rear portion provided with a slot extending lengthwise of the feeler, an oscillating lever, an arm extending upwardly from the lever and engaging the slot in the feeler, a support carried by the arm for supporting the rear portion of the feeler, yielding connections between the oscillating lever and arm permitting the feeler to be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle when a working supply of filling is present and to be moved by the arm when the fill ing is substantially exhausted, and means for effecting filling replenishment when the arm moves the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle, means for effecting replenishment of the filling when the feeler so moves on a detectlng beat,

an oscillating lever, an arm pivotally mounted on the lever and extending into engagement with the feeler, and a spring acting on the arm to permit the feeler to be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by the arm when a working supply is present and cause such movement as the oscillating lever is oscillated when the filling is substantially exhausted.

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms. the combination of a feeler mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle, means for effecting replenishment of the filling when the feeler so moves on a detecting beat, an oscillating lever, an arm pivotally mounted on the lever and extending into engagement with the feeler, and supporting it for permissive movement toward and from the front of the loom, and a spring acting on the arm to permit the feeler to be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by the armwhen a working supply is present and cause such movement as the oscillating lever is oscillated when the filling is substantially exhausted.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle, means for effecting replenishment of the filling when the feeler so moves on a detecting beat,

an oscillating lever, means for oscillating the lever during each detecting beat of the lay, an arm pivotally mounted on the lever and extending into engagement with the feeler, and a spring acting on the arm to permit the feeler to be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by the arm when a working supply is present and cause such movement as the oscillating lever is oscillated when the filling is substantially exhausted.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, power actuated means for moving the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle, and connections between the power means and feeler, including a spring normally acting to permit the feeler to be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by said connections when a working supply of filling is present on a detecting beat and to cause the feeler to be moved longitudinally of the shuttle by said connections when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat of the lay, a pivot block for supporting one end portion of the feeler for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, a yielding arm mounted for swinging movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and supporting the other end portion of the feeler, an oscillating member on which the arm is' pivotally mounted, and means for oscillating said member to cause the yielding arm to move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat of the lay, a pivot block for supporting one end portion of the feeler for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, a yielding arm mounted for swinging movement in aidirection longitudinally of the shuttle and supporting the other end portion of the feeler, an oscillating member on which the arm islpivotally mounted, a cam for oscillating said member to cause the yielding arm to act upon the feeler and effect movement thereof longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted.

10. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, power actuated means for moving the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle, yielding means connected to the feeler for moving it rearwardly, and connections between the power means and feeler, including a spring normally. acting to permit the feeler to be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by said connections when a working supply of filling is present on a' detecting beat and to cause the feeler to be moved longitudinally of the shuttle by said connections when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

11. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, an oscillating member for moving the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle, a cam for actuating the oscillatory member, and a yielding connection joining the oscillatory and feeler member and permitting the feeler to be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by the filling when a working supply is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat, said cam constructed and arranged to actuate the oscillatory member only after the feeler engages a surface within the shuttle. 12. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, an oscillating member for moving the feeler longitudiwally of the shuttle, an arm connected to e oscillating member and engaging the feeler, a spring normally acting on said arm to-maintain the feeler in feeling position and yielding under the action of the oscillating member to'permit a working supply of fillwith the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion thereof, an oscillating member for moving the feeler longitudi nally of the shuttle, means for actuating the said oscillating member during each detecting beat of the lay, and an arm pivotally supported by the oscillating member and connected to the feeler.

14. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from such movement by the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, an OS- cillating member for moving the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle, means for actuating the said oscillating member during each detecting beat of the lay, an arm extending into engagement with the feeler and pivotally mounted on the'oscillating member, and a spring normally acting through the arm to permit the feeler to be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by the filling when a working supply is present and cause such movement when the filling is .substantially exhausted.

15. A. feeler mechanism' for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler which is mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and also longitudinally of the shutle, power means for moving the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle, an arm between the power means and feeler and with respect to which the feeler is movable toward and from the front of the loom, and a spring which acts through said arm to permit the feeler to be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle by said arm when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat.

16. In a filling replenishing loom, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement toward and from thefront of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, power-actuated means for moving the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle, and connections between the power-actuated means and feeler including a spring which permits the feeler to be held from movement longitudinally of the'shuttle by the power-actuated means when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detect-ing beat and effects such movement when the filling is substantially exhausted.

In testimony whereof I have signed my FRED LACEY. 

